U-shaped, steam and water tube boiler with superposed chambers



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Filed March l0, 1952 DMIEEBHM DEEECHHIH DIHHHUM DEEECHM DUIUEEHU DUJEBEHUIH F. B. ROMERO STEAM AND WATER TUBE BOILER H SUPERPOSED CHAMBERS 5 Sheets-Shea?.l l

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ay 3l, 1955 F B ROMERQ 2,709,423

U-SHAPED, STAMAND WATER TUBE BOILER WITH SUPERPOSED CHAMBERS Filed March 1o, 195,2l 5 sheets-shew fe' May 3L 1955 F, B, RQMERQ Z,7Q,423

U-SHPED, STEAM AND WATER TUBE BOLER WITH SUPERPOSED CHAMBERS Filed March l0, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 il ll II ll Il H E] l n" /6 E f y Y E IN VEN TOR. EJ ffkxmw may 3L 1955 F. B. ROMERO 2,709,423

U-SHAPED, STEAM AND WATER TUBE BOILER WITH SUPERPOSED CHAMBERS Filed March 10, 1952// 5 Sheng-Shane; 4

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@wahr-zr May 31, 1955 F. B. ROMERO 2,709,423

U-SHAPED, STEAM AND WATER TUBE BOILER WITH SUPERPOSED CHAMBERS Filed March l0, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 oo c ooo ooo moo@ omo@ @ooo @ooo 00o@ ooo@ can@ ooo@ sooo ooQ@ oo@ oo@ o oo United States Patent O U-SHAPED, STEAM AND WATER TUBE BOILER WETH SUPERPGSED CHM/IEERS Frederick B. Romero, Washington, D. C. Application March 10, 1952, Serial No. 275,813

Claims. (Ci. 122-4) The object of this invention is to provide a steam generator which will withstand unusually high steam pressures, i. e., up to and including 3000 pounds per square inch. And also to provide a steam generator made adaptable to the close fitting within and comparatively close to the bottom of newly invented marine vessels having upwardly projecting central channels along the longitudinal center-lines, as revealed in Pat. No. 2,570,595, October 9, 1951, and Pat. No. 2,550,298, April 24, 1951, and thereby equally distributing boiler weight on both sides of the vessels longitudinal center-lines. Another object of this invention being to provide a steam generator developing a sufficient steam pressure to drive at unusually high rates of speed a newly invented steam turbine, which in combination with other newly invented mechanisms revealed under Pat. No. 2,582,563, January 15, 1952, and Pat. No. 2,539,756, January 13, 1951, make possible the attaining of unusually high rates of speed of marine vessels at comparatively low costs. A further object of this invention is generally to improve the construction of boilers of the type herewith set forth, wherein comparatively more extensive evaporative heating surface area and steam stowage volume are provided.

These objects are attained partially by the U-boiler illustrated in the accompanying Orthographie drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom view of the U-boiler.

Fig. 2 is an elevation side view of the U-boiler.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the U-boiler.

Fig. 4 is a rear end View of the U-boiler.

Fig. 5 is a front or forward end View of the U-boiler.

Fig. 6 is an elevation sectional view made of part of the boiler as it would appear on the left side of the centerline of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of part of the U-boiler appearing in the horizontal plane.

Fig. 8 is a sectional View of detail structure in the U-boiler.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several Views, but not all the similar parts are numbered. The break indicated in Figs. 1-3 implies variability of the lengths of the U-boilers in their structural forms; however, it is to be understood that the proportionate dimensions of the curves and ellipses especially in the major U-curves (see Figs. l, 3, and 7) are not to be varied essentially in the structural forms of the U-boilers.

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0 These proportionate dimenslons of the curves and ellipses revealed in these accompanying drawings being of considerable importance in the matter of proper strength distribution especially in the major U-curves (see Figs. 1, 3, and 7) in the structural forms of high-pressure steam generators.

The structural forms of the U-boilers are to be made of only those alloys having practically no creep at temperatures varying between F., and l100 F.

The construction illustrated in the Figs. 1-8, as applied to a high-pressure steam generator, to which the invention particularly is intended, the U-boiler is comprised 651Vthreaded cylinder 12, onto which of a plurality of fitted pre-cast sectional structures most of which are tightly joined together by welding. Fig. l, the bottom view of the boiler, reveals essentially the entire shape ofthe U-boiler as it appears in the horizontal plane, and also, the outer appearance of the type of boiler plating utilized in the U-boiler structural forms. The boilers water container 1 has at its ends the water supplying, or emptying, tubes 2. This view also invites ones attention to the boilers rear end apertures 9; these provide inward accessibility to the boiler' and are closed by steam-tight covers 10, as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 2, being an elevation side view of the U-boiler; this figure being slightly diagrammatic, in that the steam expansion tubes 16, tubes 17, and tubes 31, in the total number of them shown, is not the same as shown by Fig. 6, which reveals the true total numbers of these tubes as they appear in both the vertical and horizontal planes in the structural forms.

Fig. 2 reveals practically all the outer appearance of the U-boiler, which for the purpose of facilitating complete description, may be thought of as having its front end located just a little forward of apertures 21, and 27a; from the front end, in elevation, appear from the bottom to the top respectively, the water container 1, water and steam chamber A, enclosing the space immediately rearward of aperture 21, steam chamber C, enclosing the space immediately rearward of aperture 27a, and the steam pressure equalizing chamber E; these chambers being made by water container 1, steam expansion tubes 16, tubes 17, reinforcing plates 24, steam expansion tubes 31, and superheated steam tubes 41, structurally contiguous with steam chambers B and steam chambers D, located immediately forward of the rear ends of said U-boiler, and it is to be understood that these chambers B are structurally superimposed on top of the rearward ends of water container 1, and these chambers B are structurally superimposed rearwardly by steam chambers D, from which upwardly extend the rearward ends of superheated steam tubes 41. All of the above indicated steam chambers, besides the water container, are outwardly constructed of the type of multiply cross-ridged metal plating shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 6; internally the water container 1 and the steam chambers are partially separated one from the other by comparatively thinner and entirely flat and smooth metal plating as shown by plates 7 and 35, in Fig. 6. The joints reinforcing strips throughout the entire U-boiler structure, as shown in Fig. 6, by reinforcing strips 5 and 36, are made of entirely smooth metal plating. The U-boilers middle reinforcing plates 24, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are made to have multiple crossridges on both sides of the plates except at the ends where they are made contiguous with the tops of steam chambers A and B, where said plates 24 are made entirely ilat and smooth on the side brought into contact with the tops of said boiler chambers, onto which said middle reinforcing plates 24 are welded.

Fig. 2, showing all except two of the boilers access apertures providing inward accessibility to the inside of all the steam chambers except the steam pressure equalizing chamber; said apertures are closed to make the boiler water-tight and steam-tight by a mechanism like that shown at the rear end of chamber B, wherein is tted cover 10, shown to be made of the multiply cross-ridged type of metal plate and provided with a centered and welded-into-place threaded bolt 11, fitted to the internally is welded the six spoked wheel 13, this wheel being separated from clamping-bar 15, by a washer 14. The sides of aperture 9, being formed by the inwardly curved cross-ridged plating as shown; an aluminum gasket, not shown because of the impracticality of showing it, is provided to establish steam tightness between the cover 10 and the inwardly projecting at edge of the apertures side plating. The cylinder 12 provides space for a lubricant which will prevent sticking of the threaded parts. The wheel 13 is provided with six spokes to make it possible to tightly lock the wheel into place to prevent mischievous loosening of it. As above stated, a like mechanism is used to close all the U-boiler steam chamber apertures providing inward accessibility.

Fig. 2, showing exactly how the ends of the water container 1 are made in the boilers structural form, makes Fig. l slightly diagrammatic but helpful in emphasizing the fact that most of the boiler plates are of the multiply cross-ridged type, which provides unusually great strength which is necessary to withstand long periods of sustained inside boiler steam pressures near and up to 3000 pounds per square inch. In Fig. 2, as shown, the water container ends are made closed above and around the boiler filling and emptying tubes 2, by plates 3, which are tightly fixed in their places by being welded to their adjacent structures of the same type of plating and the superimposed flat smooth plates 7, forming the steam-tight bottom of chambers B (the two rear end steam chambers in the same elevation being made exactly alike are identitied by the same letter in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 6), and also as shown plates 1, 3, and 6 are tightly joined by reinforcing hat pieces 4 and 5. The ridges near the joint edges on all sections of the multiply cross-ridged boiler plating are removed so that the reinforcing at pieces fit tightly down onto the outer surfaces of the thinner sections of the multiply cross-ridged plating before beginning to weld the joint reinforcing at pieces into their tions on the boiler, thereby, besides continuous welds w being made along the edges of the joints reinforcing hat pieces, a number of plug welds are made to ll the previously made holes and thereby increase the strength of contact of the strip to the plating beneath.

Fig. 2 shows further the way by which steam chambers B are closed at their forward ends by multiply crossridged plates these plates being pierced with holes to be fitted into by the ends of steam expansion tubes 16, and tubes i7, as shown also in Figs. 3 and 6. Beneath these tubes, as shown, the top of the water container 1 is tightly closed by plates 5'1; these, as stated by inference above, being made of the multiply cross-ridged plating, and having its joints with its fitted adjacent plating, made by continuous welds and said joints reinforced by flat reinforcing strips 52, and similar strips as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, on the right side of Fig. 3s longitudinal centerline, where the figure is left incomplete for the purpose of showing the boiler structure as it appears below the boilers reinforcing plates 24.

Forwardly, immediately rearward of the forward end, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, steam chamber A structurally superimposes the forward end of the U-shaped water container, and is formed by multiply cross-ridged plates 18, Ztl, and 2da, shown clearly by the combined effects of Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Steam chamber A, being provided at the boilers forward end with access aperture 21, which is closed steam-tight, in the same way explained above and shown in steam chamber B, at the bcilers rear end in Fig. 2. Steam chamber A is separated from the water container l, beneath, by the perforated plate 22, shown by the dotted line in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, and shown over the full extent of the distributed perforations in Fig. 7, which is an exact revelation of proportionate size and distribution of the perforations in the structural forms. This perforated plate allows wet or sat rated steam and water to come in from the water container beneath and to pass through tubes 16, into rearward steam chambers B, described above; and from steam chambers B, saturated steam passes through tubes i7. into steam chamber C, structurally superimposed upon steam chamber A and separated therefrom by the tightly fitted and welded into place plate 2S, indicated in Figs. 2, 4, and 5. Steam chamber A in its rearward end plates 18, being pierced to make holes to be fitted into by tubes 16, and tubes 17, said tubes being welded into their proper positions by complete welds being made around the ends of the tubes to malte tight joints between them and the boiler plates; to insure complete tightness at these joints between these tubes 16 and 17, and plates S and 8, collars similar to those indicated by numeral 23, are being utilized. Steam chamber As outside multiply cross-ridged plating 18, 2l), and 29a, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, have their joints reinforced by strips 19 and 26.

Steam chamber A, forwardly being superimposed by steam chamber C, which as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, is comprised of multiply cross-ridged plating 27, 2S, and 271), the welded joints of these being reinforced by strips 26 and 3b, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5. These reinforcing strips being welded into their places by equidistantly placed plug welds and continuous welds along their edges as described above. Steam chamber C is provided as shown, with an access aperture 27a, this being closed steam tight in the same way shown in Fig. 2, at the rear end of steam chamber B. Chamber C, having its rearward plates 23 pierced to make holes for the ends of steam expansion tubes 31 to fit into, and to become tightly joined thereto by welding which includes the use of collars similar to those indicated by numeral 23. The tubes 31, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6, extend rearwardly into the rear steam chambers D, and are joined thereto as described above in relation to chamber C.

'team chambers D, structurally superimposed steam chambers B, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 6. Chambers D, as shown, being provided with access apertures 3S, are closed steam-tight in the same way as described above in relation to chambers B. Chambers D, being also, constructed of multiply cross-ridged plating similar to that shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, and having its welded joints reinforced by strips 33, 36, and 39; these strips being held in their places by the use of plug welds and continuous welds along their edges as above described. These chambers D are separated from those beneath by flat and smooth plates 35, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 6. Chambers D are made with holes in their tops for close t with ends of superheated steam tubes 41, which at their ends have their joints with chambers D outside plating, reinforced by collars 4t), as shown in Fig. 6. Further, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, superheated steam tubes 41 are supported in their positions by supports d2, including support bolts 43, and their nuts 4d, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The superheated steam tubes 4i, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, extend from steam chambers D, forwardly to their position as shown above chambers C, thence medially toward the longitudinal center-line of said U- boiler as shown in Figs. l and 3, along the top of the supporting I-beam d5, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and near the lower middle of steam pressure equalizing chamber E, said superheated steam tubes extending into being joined to steam chamber E, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, Ll, and 5; the welded joint between the tubes 41, and the multiply cross-ridged plating of chamber E, is also reinforced by welding into place properly shaped collars similar to those indicated by numeral di), in Fig. 6. For convenience in structural procedure, joints may be made in the superheated steam tubes 41 and steam tubes 16, 17, and 31; such joints being reinforced by welding over them short tight tting sleeves 41a, made with holes to receive plug welds besides continuous welds at the ends of said sleeves, as shown in Fig. 8. Said l-beam 45 is held in its place shown by welding to the tops of chambers C, said l-beam 45 having a plurality of lightening holes 455i as shown.

Steam chamber E, the steam pressure equalizing charnber, so named because of the fact that from it steam is supplied with equal pressure to the connected driving machinery equidistantly placed on both sides of the longitudinal center-lines of the above indicated marine vessels where said U-boilers are to be utilized. Chamber E, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, is structurally superimposed on top of steam chamber C, and its bottom is made of the properly shaped (Fig. 3) fiat smooth plate 29, indicated in Figs. 2, 4, and 5. Chamber E is made in its dome shaped outside plating, of the multiply crossridged type of plating shown in Figs. l and 6. lts welded joint to the outside plating of chamber C and the separating plate 29 is reinforced by welding strip 30 into place; the welding of said strip 31% into its place in the same way as previously described, i. e., by equidistantly placed plug welds and continuous welds along its edges; iiat strip 3l), being indicated in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5. Steam chamber E, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, is provided with steam conveying flanged tubes 47; the flanges providing a proper means of connection of said U-boiler with the steam conveying pipes guiding steam into steam turbines. Chamber E, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, is provided with a connecting tube 49, for fitting onto the boiler a steam pressure gauge. Chamber E, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, is provided with a connecting tube 48, for connecting to the boiler a safety pressure valve. These provided tubes are tightly joined to the outside plating of chamber E, by continuous welds made around them both from the inside and outside of the dome. All the steam expansion tubes, including the superheated steam tubes, are in their transverse section, made wholly circular inside and outside, and have a sufficient thickness and strength to withstand high steam pressure at high temperatures. rhe insides of all the above indicated steam chamber plate sections and the insides of all the indicated steam expansion tubes of said U-boiler are made smooth and polished before assembling them into the structural form of said U-boiler. Said Uboiler in its structural form is provided with a boilerplate thermometer.

The U-boiler is in its structural forms to be provided with water-gauge connections, but the exact positions of these is not shown in the accompanying drawings, because in places of utility the boiler is to be supported at an angle to the horizontal plane, and the number o? degrees of this angle will vary in different marine vessels according to the judgment of the naval architect, and this variation will cause a variation in the proper placement of the Water-gage connections. ln angularly supported position in use, the forward end (described above of the boiler, will always be at higher points of elevation than the rear ends, when the marine vessel is in properly trimmed position in smooth surfaced water.

l, the inventor, believe that the herewith disclosed "L,l-boiler is of such unique shape and fri-.notional char acteristics in its structural form when considered in its entirety, and of such utility value, that it fulfills the conditions for patentability as set forth in 35 U. S. C., and Sec. 102 of the Book of Patent Laws effective January l, 1953, in the United States Patent Oiice; therefore. l. claim:

l. A U-boiler comprising a plurality of fitted structures, comprising outer plates, made mostly of multiply cross-ridged alloyed metal of a type practically nonexpanding even when held at high temperatures formed into a U-shaped water container; chambers superimposed on the water container and others on said chambers and separated from one another and the water container by fiat smooth tightly welded plates and having the joints reinforced by fiat strips welded into place so as to overlap the adjacent edges of the outer side of the plates of said chambers and container and including said separating flat plates; communicating means between said container and one of said chambers; said chambers being seven in number, one bein(y a central dome chamber and siy` being steam chambers and made with access apertures having steam tight covers providing steam-tight closure of said chambers, a plurality of steam expansion tubes of especially great strength and uniform circular cross-sectional structure forming a continuous connection between said steam chambers inner spaces on either leg of the U-boiler and said dome chamber; a communication means between said dome chamber and a steam chamber of each leg; said U-boiler having the specified essentially unalterable proportionate dimensions in its major U-curves established for the `maintenance of comparatively great tensile and yield strength of said U-boiler in utility, all substantially as herewith set forth.

2. A U-boiler as set forth in claim l, and wherein said U-boiler is elliptical in cross-section.

3. A U-boiler as set forth in claim l, wherein said first communicating means is formed by a perforated plate which allows water and steam to pass into the structurally superimposed steam chambers; said lJ-shaped boiler midway between its forward and rear ends and between said superimposed steam chambers being closed by tightly fitted flat multiply cross-ridged plates having welded joints reinforced by overlapping flat strips tightly held in their places by approximately equidistantly spaced plug welds and continuous edge welds; said flat strips being made with approximately equidistantly spaced holes, said multiply cross-ridged plates having no ridges along that amount of outer surface near and at the edges brought into Contact with the under and hidden surface of said reinforcing flat strips; said U-boiler having a plurality of steam expansion tubes having welded joints with the adjacent plates reinforced by collars tightly welded into place; said U-boiler in the middle portions of. its legs being reinforced by flat multiple cross-ridged plates establishing necessary stiffness and providing desirable heat reflecting surfaces; all substantially as herewith set forth.

4. A U-boiler as set forth in claim 1, in which said fitted structures are pre-cast and have their outer surfaces cross-ridged and in which said reinforcing fiat strips are made of the same alloy as that comprising the said fitted pre-cast structures; the said U-boiler being provided with adequate steam pressure indicating and safety control instruments.

5. A U-boilcr as set forth in claim l, in which the plurality of steam expansion tubes are constituted of the same practically non-eXpanding alloyed metal as the plates; said boiler having an extensive internal e' tive heating surface and steam stowage capacity and being provided with adequate means for connection with a feed water supply and steam distribution system.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 238,754 Blumenberg Mar. l5, 188i 574,483 Hutchinson Ian. 5, 1897 2,612,350 Stadler Sept. 30, i952 

